NEW YORK — New York has received critical federal approval for its first-in-the-nation plan that seeks to charge drivers who drive in heavily-traveled parts of Manhattan. This as part of an effort to reduce traffic, improve air quality and raise funds for the city’s public transportation system.
The program could start in spring 2024, bringing New York City in line with places like London, Singapore and Stockholm that have implemented similar tolling programs for highly congested business districts.
In one of several tolling scenarios being considered, drivers could be charged as much as $23 a day to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which oversees the long-stalled plan , you still need to decide the exact amount.
The congestion pricing plan cleared its final federal hurdle after being approved by the Federal Highway Administration, a spokeswoman for New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday.
“With the green light from the federal government, we look forward to moving forward with the implementation of this program,” Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement.
People heading to Manhattan already pay large tolls to use many of the bridges and tunnels that connect the Hudson, East and Harlem rivers. Special tolls for the southern half of Manhattan would be added to existing charges.
The new tolls are expected to generate another billion dollars a year, which would be used to finance loans to improve the MTA-operated subway, bus and commuter rail systems.
The state Legislature approved a conceptual plan for congestion pricing in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic combined with a lack of guidance from federal regulators stalled the project.
New Jersey officials have strongly opposed the plan, where people heading to Manhattan by car could see the costs of commuting skyrocket. Taxi drivers and car service drivers have also opposed it, saying it would make fares unaffordable. Some MTA proposals have included caps on tolls for taxis and other for-hire vehicles.
